If you are still not ready for life with a baby, then a negative pregnancy test is definitely a good thing. However, there're other ladies who complain of having pregnancy symptoms but negative tests, which might tend out to be a bit disappointing.

Is this even possible? Well, it does happen in some women. It can be very confusing to have pregnancy test results showing that you are not pregnant, but you still have symptoms of pregnancy. There are various factors that may cause women to get negative pregnancy test results and still display pregnancy symptoms.

Having Pregnancy Symptoms but Negative Tests, Does That Mean I'm Not Pregnant?

Pregnancy symptoms negative test is a dilemma for an increasing number of women today. While pregnancy tests are designed to be accurate, they are not entirely dependable. They can give false negative false or positive results.

However, this is very rare. Therefore, if the results of this test show that you are not pregnant, but you are still experiencing pregnancy symptoms, it is advisable to either see your doctor for further examination or get a home pregnancy test kit and repeat the test.

Having Pregnancy Symptoms but Negative Tests, Why?

1

Early Tests

For a pregnancy to be detected, the body needs some time to manufacture sufficient pregnancy hormone. As such, if you have the pregnancy test done before missing your period, you are likely to get inaccurate results. Many clinics will tell you that you only need to have missed your period by a day for the pregnancy to be detected. To avoid having pregnancy symptoms but negative tests, it is advisable to wait until the period is about a week late.

2

Poor Timing

If you do not time the test properly, you are also more likely to get false negative pregnancy test results. For more accurate results, it is advisable to wait for at least 15 minutes after the urine sample is collected and before administering the test. Additionally, you also have to allow the required time after administering the test. If you are carrying the test at home, you may use a kitchen timer to ensure that the timing is as accurate as possible.

3

Testing Diluted Urine Sample

For more accurate pregnancy test results, it is advisable to take urine sample first thing in the morning. This is the time of the day when the urine is most concentrated. Waiting until later in the day or taking too much water prior to taking the test can lead to false negative results because the urine is more dilute.

4

False Pregnancy

This is called pseudocyesis, a condition where the patient experiences most of the pregnancy symptoms while she has no fetus in the uterus. Currently, it is estimated that 1 to 6 people out of 22,000 live births experience this condition. Intense desire to get pregnant can lead to this condition. Following infertility, impending menopause, increased desire to get married or repeated miscarriages, many ladies tend to become desperate for a baby.

This increased desire to get pregnant can make the bodies of such ladies to produce pregnancy symptoms, including enlarged breasts, swollen belly, and fetal movements, while they are actually not pregnant. In such a case, the brain will then misinterpret such signs as a pregnancy and trigger the release of production of pregnancy hormones, such as prolactin and estrogen, leading to pregnancy symptoms.

Other FAQs on Pregnancy

1

A missed period and a negative pregnancy test, can I still be pregnant?

It is common to get a lady who has missed her period with a negative test, but she is pregnant. The main reason why ladies get wrong results in this case is miscalculating their period.

On average, the menstrual cycle for many ladies is 28 days. If you are lucky to have regular 28 day cycles, you can accurately estimate when your period is due. The problem is that not all ladies have regular menstrual cycles. Again, the ovulation dates as well as the implantation varies from one lady to the other. This can lead to negative results while the lady is actually pregnant. Therefore, it is possible to be pregnant after missing your period and having negative pregnancy test results.

2

Can a pregnant test fail?

Owing to various factors, a pregnancy test can fail. Such factors will lead to negative results while you are actually pregnant. One of the main factors that can lead to this is using the pregnancy test kit wrongly. Again, the kit you are using could be expired or defective, hence leading to false results.

Digital test kits normally have a timer on the window, which comes on while the kit is being used. If this timer is not being displayed, the kit is probably faulty and should not be used.

In the event that you are using a line test, a line should appear as soon as you place the absorbent tip in the urine. This is an indicator that the test kit is working properly. If this line is not showing, the test kit is faulty and will most probably give you false results.

A pregnancy test can fail and you will not be in a position to tell whether the test has failed unless you get a confirmation test from your doctor. However, you can minimize the chances of your pregnancy test failing by ensuring that the kit is working properly and that it is not expired. If the kit gives you negative pregnancy test results and you are still having pregnancy symptoms, it is advisable to wait for a few days and then repeat the test.

3

When is the time to take a pregnancy test?

For more accurate at-home pregnancy test results, it is advisable to wait until you have missed your period. Missing your menstrual period is among the initial signs of pregnancy. Alternatively, you should wait until 14 days after the suspected day of conception. This is the earliest time that a pregnancy can be detected.

Hi
I have skipped my periods, feeling pains in the stomach and the back, I'm moodly and tired all times. I used i home preg test and it came out negative. My problem is I am not healthy to carry a baby, what may I do to avoid unplanned pregnancy?

Hey girls, I was pregnant in April and the baby never developed so I had a d&c but when I was I only cramped and my boobs was sore and swollen but now the last two weeks I been feelin pregnant again but I only been crampin and sick in my stomach and very tired and i took two pregnancy test and both was neg but I swear I can feel it and I been wanting to get pregnant bad and then I read on here that your brain can trick your body so I hope that's not Wat is happening to me. But it ain't time for my period yet I usually have it around end of month. You guys think it's to early for the test to give me a 100% answer?

I know the feeling I seen the doctor on Monday and told her everything and she was so unhelpful she just told me to keep a log if the bleeding happens again but done no tests or scans or anything at all waste of time going to her but my symptoms are still there we werent trying for a baby but we're happy that we were pregnant but then she said I wasn't cause the tests came up negative but ever since then my breast have gotten so much bigger barely fit in my bra and I've gained weight and the pains in my breasts are everyday it's so confusing even my partner can't wrap his head around it

Would you say it's safe to trust multiple tests after 4 weeks after intercourse? I'm still pretty worried and the internet is full of different opinions. I've talked to several dcrs (panicking) and they've all told me I'm in the clear (I don't want to be pregnant) they all say if you're negative after 21 days then you're in the clear. Makes sense given the timeline. Let's say sperm can live up to 5 days, then all the traveling and shiz (can you tell I haven't got a clue)? It is possible to show up 10-14 days after conception. So that's 16 days then allowing the hormones to rise. Anyway I was feeling symptoms about 4 weeks ago which made me think I was, sore breasts, constipation, and feeling dizzy to say a few, I was told I'm just stressed. Anyway that first period was easy, I mean I hardly bled. Then came the last one I had and just before it I was feeling terrible, anyway it was possibly the worst pain I've ever had I kid you not. I bled lightly most of it then suddenly a massive period for a whole day, I was in agony. It's not surpassed now, I'm oddly still anxious though. Even though I should feel in the clear. My body feels normal to me again but I can't shake this feeling. To sum up I'd be about 9 weeks pregnant. I feel slightly bloated but I did have a big lunch. Anyway my thoughts aside, what do you other paranoid people think? I hope it works out well for all of you

Today i wished that i could just die we are trying to have a baby i missed my period and i had all the symptoms i was so happy then i found out today i am not pregnant but still have all symptoms now i read this that you can have all coz of wanting a baby so bad. This is so not fair. Why should women have to deal with this.

Hi any advice,
I got 2 positive tests and then started bleeding around the second week of September I went to the doctor and they got negatives and said that it was an early pregnancy loss. The bleeding was 2 days spotting and 2 days bleeding and then nothing since then (if it was a period I never had anything so short in my life!) now the past 2 days I got a light pink spotting just once a day and then yesterday 11-10-16 I got a tiny tiny bit of red blood when I wiped and I have been gaining a little bit of weight which is unusual for me as I find it difficult to gain weight, does anyone have any advice? I don't know what to think and can't see the doctor till Monday

Hi everyone. My last period was on August 12 and I have yet to have another one. I mark my period every month and it is between 25-27 days. I have taken 2 pregnancy tests. Once before my first mossed period and another about a week after, both were negative. I did have a little spotting when I wiped only a few days before my missed period. Not sure what to do.